SOCCER

U.S. Wins Its First World Cup Qualifier

By ALEX YANNIS

Published: November 4, 1996

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3—
The United States embarked on the long road to the 1998 World Cup with a victory today, defeating an emotional Guatemalan team by 2-0 before an R.F.K. Stadium crowd that mainly cheered for the visitors.

Guatemala was playing for the first time since 84 people were killed in a stadium stampede in Guatemala City on Oct. 16, before a scheduled game against Costa Rica.

Second-half goals by Eric Wynalda and Brian McBride gave the United States a triumph in its first World Cup qualifying game in seven years. The American team did not have to go through the qualifying rounds in 1994, when the World Cup was held in the United States.

Wynalda scored his 26th goal for the United States in the 55th minute, when he collected a precision cross from the left side by Claudio Reyna and blasted the ball into the net with his left foot from 8 yards away.

McBride scored his first goal in his debut for the United States in the 89th minute, when he outraced a defender with authority and converted Wynalda's low cross from the left side. His goal brought a sigh of relief from the Americans, who defended rather desperately in the last 15 minutes.

Encouraged by the majority of the crowd of 30,082, the visitors engaged the Americans in a physical battle that resulted in 31 fouls, 18 by Guatemala.

''We knew that people were coming from all over the United States to cheer for us,'' Martin Guerra Machon, the diminutive Guatemalan midfielder, said after the game. ''We're sorry we didn't win for them. It was a sad moment for us. We wanted the referee to have a moment of silence for the tragedy, but he never did it.''

Officials of the United States Soccer Federation said a moment of silence was announced just before the national anthems of the two countries were played, and that it was observed in the stands. They said that the players on the field did not hear the announcement because of the noise.

The crowd noise was deafening, and for some, disappointing.

''Very disappointed,'' United States Coach Steve Sampson said of the lack of support from the crowd for his team. ''I was surprised by the overwhelming Guatemalan crowd.''

Sampson's team may have lacked support in the stands, but it succeeded on the field because it capitalized on two of its chances. The Guatemalans, meanwhile, were unable to get a goal, sometimes because they were denied by Kasey Keller's inspired goalkeeping and sometimes because they missed the target.

Guatemala found gaps in the United States' defense, and got into good positions against Keller, often enough that Sampson admitted a great deal of concern afterward.

''We have to shore up our defense,'' said Sampson, who was caught by surprise when Guatemala used three forwards. ''I'm not satisfied with our play at times. We have some things to iron out.''

With Trinidad and Tobago coming to Richmond next Sunday for another qualifying game, the United States has just a few days to solve its problems on defense.

This was the first of six games in seven weeks for the United States, which is in Group 1 with Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica. The four nations will play each other twice, and two will advance to the six-team final round in 1997. Three teams from that round will advance to the World Cup in France in 1998.

Photo: Guatemala's German Ruano blocking Joe-Max Moore of the U.S. in yesterday's World Cup qualifying match. (Associated Press)